Alabama Air National Guard
Encyclopedia
The Alabama Air National Guard is the air force
militia
of the U.S. state
of Alabama
. It is, along with the Alabama Army National Guard
, an element of the Alabama National Guard
. It is considered a part of the United States Air Force
, as well as of the state.
, President Dwight D. Eisenhower
personally asked then-Governor of Alabama John Malcolm Patterson
(who served as a lieutenant in Eisenhower's staff during the World War II
) to use the aircraft of Air National Guard of Alabama (Patterson, as Governor, was commander-in-chief of the guard) by Cuba
n émigrés to attack and pilots to train them in deep secret in Nicaragua
. Patterson agreed and then-commander, Major General
George R. Doster was ordered to oversee all operation.
Air force
An air force, also known in some countries as an air army, is in the broadest sense, the national military organization that primarily conducts aerial warfare. More specifically, it is the branch of a nation's armed services that is responsible for aerial warfare as distinct from an army, navy or...
militia
Militia
The term militia is commonly used today to refer to a military force composed of ordinary citizens to provide defense, emergency law enforcement, or paramilitary service, in times of emergency without being paid a regular salary or committed to a fixed term of service. It is a polyseme with...
of the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
. It is, along with the Alabama Army National Guard
Alabama Army National Guard
The Alabama Army National Guard is a component of the United States Army and the United States National Guard. Nationwide, the Army National Guard comprises approximately one half of the US Army's available combat forces and approximately one third of its support organization...
, an element of the Alabama National Guard
Alabama National Guard
The Alabama National Guard comprises both Army and Air components. The Guard is part of the Alabama Military Department, seemingly overseen by the Adjutant General of Alabama....
. It is considered a part of the United States Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
, as well as of the state.
Units
- 117th Air Refueling Wing117th Air Refueling WingThe United States Air Force's 117th Air Refueling Wing is an Air National Guard air refueling unit located at Birmingham International Airport, Alabama.-Mission:...
- 187th Fighter Wing187th Fighter WingThe United States Air Force's 187th Fighter Wing is a unit located at Dannelly Field, Alabama.-Mission:To provide the state Governor, National Command Authority, and Combatant Commanders with a superbly equipped and trained general purpose F-16C+ Block 30 Aviation Package, associated Expeditionary...
- 226th Combat Communications Group226th Combat Communications GroupThe United States Air Force's 226th Combat Communications Group is a combat communications unit located at Abston Air National Guard Station in Montgomery, Alabama, USA.-History:...
- 232d Combat Communications Squadron232d Combat Communications SquadronThe United States Air Force's 232d Combat Communications Squadron is an Air National Guard combat communications unit located at Abston Air National Guard Station, Montgomery, Alabama.-External links:...
- 280th Combat Communications Squadron280th Combat Communications SquadronThe Air National Guard's 280th Combat Communications Squadron is a combat communications unit located at Dothan Regional Airport, Alabama...
Role in the Bay of Pigs Invasion
According to information from Seymour M. Hersh, author of The Dark Side of Camelot during early preparations to the Bay of Pigs InvasionBay of Pigs Invasion
The Bay of Pigs Invasion was an unsuccessful action by a CIA-trained force of Cuban exiles to invade southern Cuba, with support and encouragement from the US government, in an attempt to overthrow the Cuban government of Fidel Castro. The invasion was launched in April 1961, less than three months...
, President Dwight D. Eisenhower
Dwight D. Eisenhower
Dwight David "Ike" Eisenhower was the 34th President of the United States, from 1953 until 1961. He was a five-star general in the United States Army...
personally asked then-Governor of Alabama John Malcolm Patterson
John Malcolm Patterson
John Malcolm Patterson is an American politician who was the 44th Governor of Alabama, from 1959 to 1963. Previously he served as State Attorney General ....
(who served as a lieutenant in Eisenhower's staff during the World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
) to use the aircraft of Air National Guard of Alabama (Patterson, as Governor, was commander-in-chief of the guard) by Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
n émigrés to attack and pilots to train them in deep secret in Nicaragua
Nicaragua
Nicaragua is the largest country in the Central American American isthmus, bordered by Honduras to the north and Costa Rica to the south. The country is situated between 11 and 14 degrees north of the Equator in the Northern Hemisphere, which places it entirely within the tropics. The Pacific Ocean...
. Patterson agreed and then-commander, Major General
Major General
Major general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general...
George R. Doster was ordered to oversee all operation.
Active Aircraft
| Aircraft | Origin | Type |
|---|---|---|
| KC-135R Stratotanker | aerial refueling and transport | |
| F-16C Fighting Falcon | air superiority fighter | |
| RC-26B | reconnaissance mission support | |